Wondering why you didn’t get tax breaks in the Budget? In four interviews, the Finance Minister explained why she chose to spend money the way she did

India will spend as much as Rs 5.5 lakh crore on creating infrastructure and over Rs 2 lakh crore of that will be for states and Union Territories -- who will be nudged to spend this for the same. For her, this is a better way to put money in people’s hands without actually doling out the cash. Money, she says, can be in the form of a job or a manufactured product as well.While the government did deposit money directly into the bank accounts of people, it also did get locked up.“You don’t know in these periods of uncertainty, whether you should spend that money or save it. So the way in which we have looked at this is capital expenditure is a sure shot way to create that virtuous cycle,” she told Doordarshan and Hindustan Times.The government has always been conservative about borrowings as it would affect sovereign ratings. However, this time around, the FM has decided to fund increased expenses with loans rather than generate revenue via taxes. The market was abuzz with talks of a potential Covid cess, which would have been a way for the government to pass on its burden to the people. But Sitharaman said that this was never on the table.“It is one thing to be conservative at normal times but if I don’t spend now, I will be consciously delaying growth. A stimulus is absolutely necessary as it gives us the required multiplier effect and income generation will fall into place,” she told Moneycontrol.It looks like India will be borrowing a lot of money which means like every other person, they would also be worried about interest rates. Due to the intervention of central banks around the world, the cost of funds has been fairly low but that might soon change. Are interest rates and inflation giving Sitharaman sleepless nights?“I am aware of the inflation but I am worried about it. When there is greater demand….which is what we want, there will be inflation as there is a lot of liquidity in the market.We prepared a responsible borrowing calendar,” she told ET NOW.One way in which Sitharaman wants to generate revenue is to complete the divestments of state owned companies including BPCL, Air India, Pawan Hans and more. The idea is to complete the sale by the end of 2021-22 which could add as much as Rs 1.75 lakh crore to the hungry government coffers.She also allays the fears of those who are worried that the government would exit these businesses and the after-effects of these assets falling into private hands. “Why should there be fear? Haven’t we said minimum government, maximum governance? A classic example is Air India. How long have we had this dilemma, the dharam sankat? Did it benefit us? It drained resources and accumulated a huge amount of debt. I am also responsible as to how effectively I am using taxpayers’ money,” she told Times Now.

Wondering why you didn’t get tax breaks in the Budget? In four interviews, the Finance Minister explained why she chose to spend money the way she did

‘You don’t know whether to spend that money or save it’

‘If I don’t spend now, I will be consciously delaying growth’

The interest of growth and depths of transparency

The dharam sankat of disinvestment

Wondering why you didn’t get tax breaks in the Budget? In four interviews, the Finance Minister explained why she chose to spend money the way she did

‘You don’t know whether to spend that money or save it’

​‘If I don’t spend now, I will be consciously delaying growth’

​The interest of growth and depths of transparency

​The dharam sankat of disinvestment

‘If I don’t spend now, I will be consciously delaying growth’

The interest of growth and depths of transparency

The dharam sankat of disinvestment